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WMU to offer English as a Second Language teaching certificate

contact: Deanne PucaJuly 3, 2015 | WMU News

Sangren Hall, home of WMU's College of Education and Human Development

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University graduate students will have an opportunity to earn a graduate certificate in English as a Second Language instruction starting this fall in a new program that fulfills the Michigan Department of Education's requirements for the ESL Endorsement.

WMU's College of Education and Human Development is launching the 24-credit certificate program to respond to a need for ESL educators. Completion of the program fulfills the state ESL requirements.

Students in the program will learn to analyze and modify instructional materials and assessment to best serve English Language Learners in their teaching contexts. They also will be exposed to different instructional strategies and assessments that focus on intermediate to advances ELL students as well as those who have little to no English proficiency.

"According to the American Association for Employment in Education, bilingual educators and ESL/ELL teachers are in short supply nationally. The creation of this ESL programs is one of the initiatives our college is undertaking to respond to this trend and the needs of our community," says the education college's dean, Dr. Ming Li.

Applications are being accepted for the graduate certificate program, and more information can be found by contacting Dr. Selena Protacio, assistant professor of special education and literacy, at (269) 387-6050 or selena.protacio@wmich.edu.